In the context of the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) for Tourism, it has been decided to constitute a Steering Committee on Tourism. The composition and terms of reference of the Steering Committee would be as follows:

1. Composition

1.

Shri Anwarul Hoda, Member, Planning Commission

Chairman

2

Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, New Delhi

Member

3

Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, New Delhi

Member

4

Secretary, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi

Member

5

Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi

Member

6

Secretary, Department of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi

Member

7

Secretary, Department of Revenue, New Delhi

Member

8

Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, New Delhi

Member

9

Secretary, Ministry of Health, New Delhi

Member

10

Member, Railway Board, New Delhi

Member

11

Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi

Member

12

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, New Delhi

Member

13.

Adviser (Transport), Planning Commission, New Delhi

Member

14.

Managing Director, Air India, Mumbai

Member

15.

Managing Director, Indian Airlines, New Delhi

Member

16.

Representative of FICCI, New Delhi

Member

17.

Representative of CII, New Delhi

Member

18

Shri M.P. Bezbaruah, Permanent Representative, WTO, New Delhi

Member

19.

Representative of Hotel Association of India (HAI), New Delhi

Member

20.

Representative of Indian Association of Tour Operators ( IATO), New Delhi

Member

21.

Representative of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Asso. of India, New Delhi

Member

22.

Representative of Adventure Tour Operators’ Association, New Delhi

Member

23.

Representative of Tourist Transport Operators’ Association, New Delhi

Member

24.

Representative of Travel Agents’ Association, New Delhi

Member

25.

Shri Ashwini Kakkar, Chairman, WTTC, Indian Initiative. D.

Member

26.

Shri Cyrus Guzder, Chairman and MD, AFL, Pvt., Ltd., Mumbai

Member

27

Shri Jose Dominic, Director, Casino Hotel, Cochin

Member

28

Shri Raymond Bickson, MD, Taj Group of Hotels, Mumbai

Member

29

Shri Bittu Sehgal, Environmentalist, New Delhi

Member

30

Shri Ranjit Barthakur, Eco-tourism, Kaziranga, Assam

Member

31.

Adviser (Tourism) Planning Commission, New Delhi

Member Secretary

2. Terms of reference

(i) To review tourism development activities in the Tenth Plan and suggest measures to speed up the process of development in Eleventh Plan.

(ii) To formulate an integrated strategy/approach to tourism development in collaboration with Ministries/Departments/Agencies, whose activities impinge on tourism development, such as :

The Ministry of Civil Aviation for further augmenting air seat capacity on major international sectors connecting India and for up gradation of major airports to facilitate the flow of tourists.

The Ministry of Home Affairs for improving facilitation services, liberalizing the system for issue of visa/permit, streamlining the process of migration clearance, customs clearance and prevention of touting and misguiding of tourists.

The Ministry of Finance for rationalizing tourism related taxes to make the end-product competitive.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests for developing eco-tourism.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for Adventure Tourism.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for improved connectivity to heritage sites and other tourist destinations.

The Ministry of Culture for maintenance of monuments with active private participation and entry charges.

Ministry of Health for Health tourism

To examine the need to continue Government of India Overseas Tourist Offices in the context of effective overseas publicity being possible through internet and the electronic media.

To review the incentives and other concessions given to the tourism industry (hotel, travel agents and tourist transport operators etc.) and to suggest modifications therein.

To identify measures to encourage domestic tourism in the light of high volume of outbound tourism.

3. The Chairman of the Steering Committee may co-opt officials or non-officials as members, if considered necessary.

4. Official members of the Steering Committee will be paid TA/DA by their respective Departments as per the rules of entitlement applicable to them. The non-official members will be paid TA/DA by the Planning Commission as per SR 190 (a) for attending meeting of the Steering Committee.

5. The Steering Committee will submit its report by 31.8.2006.

6. Shri R.P. Chandran, Director (Tourism), Room No.314-A, Yoajana Bhavan, New Delhi (Telephone No. 23096714), will be the Nodal Officer for this Steering Committee for all further communications.